ilo bistro — Restaurant in Norfolk

I came to this restaurant with very high expectations, but unfortunately, I left feeling a bit underwhelmed. As someone who’s traveled to Italy frequently (it’s one of my favorite places on earth!), I was excited to experience authentic flavors here. The food was fresh, but sadly, it lacked the bold flavors I was hoping for.

I started with the crispy duck rillette, which was good in theory, but the sauce it came with just didn’t quite do it justice. I was expecting something with a bit more punch, maybe a true remoulade sauce with a fun twist, but it wasn’t quite there. Next, I tried the pappardelle, and honestly, it had no flavor at all. Given my love for Italian cuisine, I expected something much more vibrant and savory.

As much as I love a good upscale dining experience, I didn’t end up ordering dessert after those two dishes. I just didn’t feel like it was going to make up for the lackluster start.

The bartender was sweet and make excellent drink suggestions, but she had some trouble hearing me, which made ordering a little frustrating. Maybe turning the music down just a notch could help with that? Also, while I was sitting at the bar, I noticed the GM (or at least I think he was the GM) seemed very attentive to two ladies at the end of the bar, continually refilling their water glasses, but didn’t bother to offer the same to me or the other guests. The bartender was clearly busy, so I feel like it could have been a team effort to make sure everyone felt taken care of.

The ambiance of the restaurant was beautiful, but I just wish the food and service lived up to the setting. With so few great upscale spots in the 757, I really wanted this one to be the one.

Overall, I’d rate my experience a 6/10. For nearly $100 including the tip, I expected more, but I’m hopeful that with some tweaks, this place could really improve. It definitely...

It’s taken quite a while to write this review because it’s both great and a let down. The food was great, and some of the best cooked fish I’ve had in the area but the front of house left a lot to be desired. To start, our reservation was pushed back by 20 minutes due to the previous table running over (which we later found out was because of the time to get our food). After being seated, we were quickly greeted by friendly staff and were informed that roughly half of the menu items were unavailable and a number of others were in limited quantities. It took exactly 30 mins from being sat to receiving our round of drinks with an old fashioned having to be reordered because it was never made. It took another 15 minutes for our appetizers to arrive (45 mins) and again, only half of the appetizers initially appeared. Although our waiter was apologetic and remembered the order, it still took another 10 minutes for the rest to come out between managing his other tables. I would highly recommend the tartare for any starter and this one did not disappoint. After our appetizers, it took another 45 minutes for our entrees to come out (90 minutes from seating) which although frustrating was worth the wait.

Overall, the food is excellent, and we certainly plan to try again in the near future; however, the front of house left a lot to be desired and was frustrating to experience at that...

Opening night at ILO Bistro yet you would think theyve been up and running for much longer. While a small space, it does not feel cramped and you are welcomed in right away. The host is attentive and it seemed to be rather timely for everybody who showed up for their reservation. Like most of the finer dining places in Norfolk, there were diners dressed up a bit more though it did not feel pretentious.

The cocktail menu is still pending as of today, but is supposed to be out soon. Nonetheless, the bartender is an expert at her craft and made us 4 drinks with nothing more than a requested type of liquor. All 4 were a hit. The appetizers and small plates were difficult to choose between, but the duck rilettes and loukomades were fantastic. The salty seranno ham was perfect on the loukomades.

The mains were also excellent. The hanger steak was cooked to perfection and paired great with the creamy spinach and crispy potatoes. The house made pasta was delicious and fresh.

The dessert was naturally not a weak spot and followed up strong to the other plates.

10/10 we will be coming back and do recommend this newcomer to the Norfolk food scene. Well worth the reservation and worth putting your faith in the chef and trying...